Gardner opened the outer door ugg boots on clearance and was blown back into the station by an explosive gust of soaking wind.
     "On second thought," said he, "I don't think I'll try to go out there this evening. The young lady can't very well get away to-night, unless she has wings, and it's pretty damp for flying. Can I get dinner over at the village?"
     "Such as it is. I'll go over with you."
     At the entrance to the unclean little hotel ugg boots clearance sale they parted, Banneker going further to find Mindle the "teamer," whom he could trust and with whom he held conference, brief and very private. They returned to the station together in the gathering darkness, got a hand car onto the track, and loaded it with a strange burden, after which Mindle disappeared into the storm with the car while Banneker wired to Stanwood an imperative call ugg boots sale clearance for a relief for next day even though the substitute should have to walk the twenty-odd miles. Thereafter he made, from the shack, a careful selection of food with special reference to economy of bulk, fastened it deftly beneath his poncho, saddled his horse, and set out for the Van Arsdale lodge. The night was pitch-black when he entered the area of the pines, now sonorous ugg boots on clearance with the rush of the upper winds.
     Io saw the gleam of his flashlight and ran to the door to meet him.
     "Are you ready?" he asked briefly.
     "I can be in fifteen minutes." She turned away, asking no questions.
     "Dress warmly," he said. "It's an all-night trip. By the way, can you swim?"
     "For hours at a time."
     Camilla Van Arsdale entered the room. "Are you taking her away, Ban? Where?"
     "To ugg bailey button Miradero, on the Southwestern and Sierra."
     "But that's insanity," protested the other. "Sixty miles, isn't it? And over trailless desert."
     "All of that. But we're not going across country. We're going by water."
     "By water? Ban, you _are_ out of your mind. Where is there any waterway?"
     "Dry Bed Arroyo. It's running bank-full. My boat is waiting there."